June / July 2011
It takes two months to erect stands and fencing for the Grand Prix, but they must be taken down in double quick time this year, as Monaco is celebrating a very special wedding in a month's time when Prince Albert 11 marries his South African fiancée, Charlene Wittstock. The civil wedding will take place on July 1st in the Palais Princier, with all Monegasques invited to the Place du Palais to salute the newlyweds when they first appear on the balcony of the Salon des Glaces, while residents drink to their continued health and happiness at a grand party at Port Hercule in the evening, entertained by a son et lumière show by Jean-Michel Jarre. The religious ceremony on July 2nd will be in the courtyard of the Palace with 3500 invited guests and shown on giant screens throughout the Principality. After the wedding, the newlyweds will drive to the Church of Sainte Devote (Monaco's patron saint) where the princess will place her wedding bouquet. Their guests will join them for a dinner and ball in Salle Gamier and on the terraces of the Casino, the celebrations ending with a firework display at midnight, no doubt followed by the traditional sounding of sirens by the flag-bedecked yachts anchored in the port.
Instead of wedding gifts, it is requested that donations be made to the Prince Albert II Foundation, a non-profit charity that is dedicated to environmental projects throughout the world and associated charities. Some local shopkeepers are no doubt disappointed and the couple will miss all the fun of unwrapping the presents, but a gift they cannot refuse is the first honey from the 300,000 bees busily working away in the apiary in a Fontvieille garden as part of a UNAF project to save the bees, which will be ready in time for their honeymoon.
The event will be like a second Grand Prix for hotels in the area as thousands of tourists and international press are expected, with the port crowded with yachts and visiting cruise ships. Consequently, Monaco has definitely been spring-cleaned this year. The Cathedral has new lighting and the organ has been refurbished. Workmen have been out at 6am with power-hoses, cleaning every nook and cranny, whilst gardeners trimmed trees and prepared the borders for a blaze of red and white flowers, the national colours of Monaco. Shops are competing for the best window display, the Manufacture de Porcelaine de Monaco, founded in 1972, is presenting a special collection of their renowned translucent porcelain to mark the occasion and a new set of postage stamps will be on sale at post offices throughout the Principality.
Monaco's museums have not been forgotten and the 20th century Grimaldi Forum's summer exhibition has a suitably royal theme, with a fascinating glimpse into the Grand Courts of Europe from the 16th to 20th century. Across the street is the charming 19th-century Musée Nationale in Garnier's Villa Sauber with a contemporary exhibition of modern art and its collection of 19th century automatic toys, all cleaned and restored to charm the visitors. American artist, Mark Dion, has spent over a year selecting an intriguing collection of undersea curiosities and designing the Oceanographic Museum's exhibition, Oceanomania, a spectacular presentation of our undersea world and Captain Nemo has taken command of Villa Paloma at the Jardin Exotique with spectacular paintings and a model of Cousteau's ship Calypso.
For those unable to attend the wedding in the courtyard of the Palais Princier, the summer concerts of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo begin their season there on July 12th. Sadly, its talented and dedicated Musical and Artistic Director, Yakov Kreizberg, will not be there. He died two months ago and is sadly missed by music lovers in Monaco and all over the world. Opera de Monte-Carlo has dedicated their 2011 -2012 season to his memory.
